Judge Juan Merchan of New York County has ruled that former President Donald Trump violated a gag order during his trial. As a result, Trump faces criminal contempt charges and the possibility of jail time for any future violations. Merchan also instructed Trump to remove seven specific posts from his Truth Social account.
The judge warned Trump that further willful violations of the court’s orders will not be tolerated and may result in incarceration. While Merchan had the authority to send Trump to jail for up to 30 days, Democrat Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg decided against pursuing this action.
Trump responded to the situation by stating that it would be an honor to be likened to Nelson Mandela in jail for speaking the truth about Judge Merchan. The gag order restricts Trump from making public comments about trial witnesses, legal counsel other than Bragg, court and district attorney staff members, and prospective jurors.
Bragg has charged Trump with 34 felonies related to alleged election interference and a payment to Michael Cohen. Despite doubts about the fairness of the trial’s outcome expressed by a majority of Americans, the proceedings mark the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Only a third of American adults believe Trump acted illegally in the case, according to a recent poll.
The case, titled New York v. Trump, is being heard in the New York Supreme Court for New York County.
